title: Prediction of parturition in bitches utilizing continuous vaginal temperature measurement.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine sensitivity and specificity of a body temperature decline in bitches to predict parturition. Temperature loggers were placed into the vaginal cavity of 16 pregnant bitches on day 56-61 after estimated ovulation or first mating. This measurement technique has been validated previously and enabled continuous sampling of body temperature. The temperature loggers were expelled from the vagina before delivery of the first pup. The computed values for specificity (77-92%) were higher than sensitivity (53-69%), indicating a more precise prognosis of parturition not occurring. In conclusion, our findings may assist interpreting vaginal temperature measurements in order to predict parturition in bitches.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geiser
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Burfeind
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Heuwieser
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arlt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology*